The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-13
CRIMINAL AIN-WRECKING.
Killing Of Engineer Dewitt, the Result of q
Series Of Attempts Upon His Life.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, JAM 12.-The south-b bound
passenger train on the Missouri Pacific extern
sion which left Omaha last night and was due
here this morning, was wrecked near Dunbar
Neb, about midnight. The wreck was caused
by the looseninc of rail, done by parties un-
known. Several spikes and fish plates had been
removed. and the train, coming along at a rate
of thirty miles an hour, plunged fifteen feet
down an embankment and landed in a snow
drift James Dewitt, OF Wyandotte Kan, en-
cineer, was caught under the boiler and killed,
his body not being recovered at last accounts.
Frank Henowits express messenger whose
home is in this city was internally hurt. and
may die. A lady, whose name was not learned,
was badly hurt, but the other passengers were
not seriously injured as far as known here. All
were shaken up, however, and more or less
bruised. The entire train left the track, and
probably the loss of life would have been greater
except for the snow bank, which broke the force
of the plunge
Missouri Pacific officials here state the wreck
is the result of third attempt upon the life Of
Dewitt, the engineer. They say of the
men engaged in the strike last spring cherished
grudge against Dewitt because he was an
active supporter of the company during the
great strike. They assert that the wreck near
Wyandotte, for which Hamilton has just been
trl0O. WAS the result OF a plOb against OeWlttS
lfe but his train was not the first TO pass over
the track. as they expected. subsequently, they
say. second attempt was made. and last night is
the third. Several suspicioua-looking men, it
is sad were seen lettering about the station at
Dunbar last evening. Tracks were found lead
ing from the scene of the wreck, which may
furnish a clew. The sheriff and several others
are searching the neighborhood, and reward
will be offered for the wreckers. A number of
| California excursionists were among the party
| The belated passengers will reach here to-day.
! The following trainmen were injured: Frank
ger, head hurt and severe internal injuries may
die; Walter p. Gates. of Kansas City, fireman,
| badly sealded and hand crushed; Frank Garrett,
| Atchson, brakeman, face hurt
Following are names of injured passengers:
j. t. Burkhart, Buffalo, Wy. T.; John Pickett,
ner, Omaha; Miss Mollie Hyde. Beloit NJ. G..
Moran. Omaha George. Coon. Philadelphia; NJ.
Kennon, Omaha; Mrs. Walter F. Kennedy,
Forepauchs circus: Mr.. Molsten. Kansas City;
| A. Van Folge, Willow Springs. Mo-; j. H. Mey-
ers Mechanicsburg, Pa; Mrs F. Cross Omaha;
| c.. g. Burton, Omaha; Matthew Lindell, Omaha;
Las McCarroley, Omaha; e. Barker, West In
dias. The most seriously injured of these is
| Mrs. Kennedy, the circus rider, whose collar
bone is fractured. The injured were all brough.
to Atchison by srecial train and cared for at a
hotel by DR.. Holland, the surgeon of the road
David W. Hoffman, of Dunbar, and James w.
Bell, OF Unadilla. Neb, were arrested at Dun
bar this afternoon, charged with having
caused the wreck last night Hoff.
man was recently a brakeman on the
B. & NJ. road, while little is known of Bell
| Both have been idling about for some time
Neither one is a member of the local Knights G
Labor. Both were somewhat intoxicated whel
| arrested, and Hoffman was badly frightened
The coroners jury returned verdict that tn
| wreck was caused by Hoffman, Bell and others